The Penn's Grove record., 1887-10-01

PROUD OF NOTOOn'S wealth. u pOSlJlOns
and OF her own distinction as his fan
Gee. And she could not tolerate the
least interference with her rights, even
in fancy.
Sne undertook to quiz Eva about
MI. DAVIS attentions to her, and sue
ceeded in tormenting the sensitive girl
until she imagined that EYa's bushes
and confusion were caused by thoughts
of Norton, not by her own cruelty.
tThe little fool has dared to fall in
love with him herselfi'' she thought,
in a jealous rage. s'Oh, but I'll punish
her well for it'll Oh, but III pay her
outi And Norton, tool I'll make him
help me to my revengel'
And she smiled-a terrible smile.
For there was born in Laura's brain,
Just then, a plan for revenge cruel
enough for a fiend much more for a
woman. Take care, Miss Laural You
are playing with edged toolsl Be very
cautious, lest you cut your W tingersl
"Well, Miss Darnall," she said,
turning to Eva with that wicked smile
still on her face, 81 will pardon you
both this time. But you see, Mr.. DAVIS
has fallen In love with you, aud /
shan't like it if you let HIM be too at
tentivei"
"Oh, Miss ElliottI How can you say
such cruel thlngs2" pleaded poor Eva,
coloring painfully.
e'Tisn't cruel, it's truel" insisted
Laura. 81 dare say he'll tell you so
some time, and if he does, l yleld my
claiml l don't want him if he likes
you better"
And Miss Laura founced out Of the
room, leaving poor, frightened Eva to
cry and to think, and to wish-oh, so
muchi-that it were not wrong to think
of Norton, and to hope that some day
some n like him might love her a
littlel
An evening or two later Laura re-
vealed her plan to Norton, and besought
his aid to carry out her good joke on
Eva. Norton looked at her aghast.
He could not believe n woman could
be willing so to outrage another.
Laura, are you in ~earnestp Do you
actually wish me to lend myself to your
scheme?" he asked.
Certainly l do. 1t will be the best
joke in the worldl' cried Laura. "She
will think it is all in earnest, and won't
she be sold, when she finds it is only a
joke?" And Laura laughed heartily in
anticipation of the fun.
Norton looked steadily at her, and
kept down a feeling which wanted to
show itself in bis face.
81 think she will, lndeedl' he said,
grimly. "Well, Laura, l consent. Only
you must break the ice for me. Since
you began it you must carry it a little
further. | don't know just how to
begin such an affair. You say the 6rst
words, and I'll follow. Otherwise, I'll
have nothing to do with your joker
"All right, III do that much" said
Laura, gayly. .'But you know you
must seem very in earnest, Norton, or
she will not believe your
81 promise to seem SO much in earn
est as to astonish even you," answered
Norton. And had Laura seen THE ex-
preston of his face irst then she n hit
have hesitated to ga
The next day, VI 0
the room where 500 j,
she found Miss Lac tn
here. n lem
Turning, with a blus~, She was
about to retire instantly from the room,
when Miss Laura called out:
Come in, Miss Darnall. We were
waiting for you'll"
"For me2" repeated Eva, pausing,
confusedly.
"You; come here and shut the door.
Mr.. Davis has something to say to you,
and he is afraid you will be angry 80 l
have agreed to help him. Miss Daf all,
Mr.. Davis and IAave7peutuslly az ed
that we are tired of each oJner, and
have broken our engagement. lie
wishes to marry you, and he IS afraid
to ask you. There, now I've told it
settle it between you.o
And Laura vanished from the room,
leaving Norton and Eva together.
Eva, too, tried to run away.
''Oh, let me gol" she cried. "This
is too cruel a jokel"
But Norton caught her and held her
fast, as he said with a singularly earn
est air for a man who was playing a
joke:
mo, by Heaven, Eva, it is not a
iokei 1t is as true as truth can bel l
have broken with Laura, and / have
seen how good and true and gentle you
are, and / love you, and | want you for
my own little wlfel Ii you will have
me, l will try all my life to make you
happy, my own sweet, sweet Eval
VIII you darling Could you learn to
love me?"
He drew her head to his shoulder,
and Eva, bewildered, frightened, but
oh, so happy, let it lie there. as she
confessed that she had learned already,
and nromised what he asked.
Laura excused Eva from working
any more, and Norton took her home,
where he asked, and gained, her
mothers consent to their marriage.
He urged it at once, saying there
was no need OF waiting. He was en-
tirely free, Laura herself had set him
free, and he would like to make Eva
his own before any gossip got wind.
He convinced both Eva and her mother
that he was not marrying her merely
because Laura had Tilted him but
because he really loved her, and wanted
to make her happy. She needed his
care and his pleasant home, he SAID.
and at last she consHf cd.
So while Laura 4 aG home that
afternoon. laughing y pr her fine fun,
and waiting to hesY m Norton how
soon the weddingK Id take place,
that she might as4 ANearryng out
the farce, a neigh or two met In
Mrs. Darnall's pre- Dttage, md very
soon Norton Davis . it with a min
lister.
Eva had trent arrayed herself
In her best dress, a feH moments
more she was ST upon the floor,
leaning upon Nc avis arm, and
the Reverend Barbour was
speaking the ms Isl which made
her Norton's vii
If Norton Ds carrying out a
joke, he was d, a manner 50
cruel as tn eX Miss Laura